'Newspg5' by The Newscaster - Nature Coast News

PAGE 4 February 11, 2009

The Newscaster/Nature Coast News

CFCC Begins Process Of Offering

Real Estate Today

A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond

Four Year Degrees

Help, My Property Taxes Are Too High!

professional appraisers will tell

After attending this weeks county

Central Florida Community College will begin the process of offering two baccalau-

you that up to recently, fore-

commission meeting in the Bronson court

reate degree programs, following approval by the District of the Board of Trustees at its

closure sales were not allowed

house, I waltzed over to "Oz" Barker’s office.

Tuesday meeting.

to be considered as comparable

As your Levy county property appraiser, "Oz"

While the college will begin working immediately thorough the approval process,

sale properties used to reach

is the one responsible for assessing all prop-

the baccalaureate programs will be offered no earlier than fall 2010, according to Dr. Charles

most appraisals utilizing "com-

erties at "fair market value". Then you have

Dassance, CFCC president. The programs will not be offered until the college receives ad-

petitive & open market" sales

your deductions with a millage rate applied to

equate funding for them.

data.

that final assessed amount. In his office is a

The degrees that are planned are a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and

This seems to be a grey area today

posted notice that states "The Market Value

Organizational Management, with specializations in Agribusiness Management, Manage-

with many appraisers utilizing general sales,

of your property is the most probable sales

ment Information Systems, Public Safety Administration and Health Care Management; and a

and foreclosure sales to reach a market value.

price your property would bring in a competi-

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education—Pre-K through Grade 3.

So if three or more low sales have occurred

tive, and open market." "If you believe that

“This is a significant change in the history of the college and one that has not been

recently in your area, no matter if they were

you could not sell your property for the mar-

taken lightly,” Dassance said. “Our primary mission of providing access through an open

foreclosures or not you may have a reason

ket value indicated on your property tax no-

door philosophy will remain in place. We will also continue our strong focus on the ‘2 Plus 2’

for a lower tax assessment review.

tice, you may request a review."

articulation process as the primary means for our students to obtain four-year degrees.”

The county appraiser’s number is

For a review you will need 5 items.

For 15 years, CFCC has provided access to baccalaureate degree programs through

352-486-5222. What ever you do, don‘t say

Your property id number, owners name, ad-

university partnerships. In recent years, some of Florida’s community colleges have been

that I sent you. Let him scratch his head why

dress, your phone number, and the reason for

granted approval to offer baccalaureate programs to meet community needs, and there are

he received a bunch of review requests all of

review. They promise to answer your general

currently 13 community colleges that are offering baccalaureate degrees. Legislation passed

a sudden from south Levy county. I’ll see you

questions immediately, and their goal is for

in 2008 expanded opportunities for community colleges to offer four-year degrees.

around "The Campus" Diamond Investments

an appraiser to call you to start the review

The approval process to offer bachelor’s degrees is rigorous and includes Level

Inc. Darryl, Vicki, and Shirley are your "The

within 5 business days. To strengthen your

II accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and approval from the

Diamond Team"

We are seasoned

position, ordering your own professional ap-

State Board of Education.

professionals that are available for all of your

praisal (approx cost $350.) should help you

real estate needs 7 days a week. If you are a

all lot, or you can opt to give the county ap-

Employees Laid Off - Continued from page 1

buyer, or know a buyer we want the opportu-

praiser two or three examples of similar home

nity to serve them. Please call us at 352-447-

sales prices in your area of the county to sup-

said but added, “Those people who are leaving have essential duties which will have to be

4442.

port your request for a lower valuation. Most

picked up by those remaining employee work groups." The capital projects group is respon-

sible foremost for improvements in infrastructure, such as new lines, facilities and intercon-

Inherit a Lot with Trash?

nects. The four employees, a senior project engineer, a budget analyst, an engineering in-

spector, and a program systems technician, represented about 30 percent of the capital projects

SITE WORK • TOTAL CLEANUP

work group. The employees leaving will have preference for open county positions for which

they are qualified for a year. The jobs eliminated were those that could most readily be

Reasonable • Fast • Efficient Equipment

integrated and balanced into the duties of the remaining employees and so cause the least

Building Demolition/Cleanup/Regrade

disruption to the whole operation, Knight said. In another move to save more money, Knight

Junk Mobiles • Trash Piles • Brush • Vines

said, the utilities division employees will be taking over operation of eight of 11 water plants

and four of five wastewater plants now managed by Severn Trent Services. The amount that

Tree & Stump Removal

will be saved will not be known until negotiations are completed in March. The county

Free Price Quotes

Fast

Reasonable

Satisfaction

Years

Quality

inherited the service contract with the company when it purchased the FGUA water and sewer

352-601-3931

Prices

Guaranteed

Experience

Work

systems in 2007. Severn Trent will continue to do the utility billing for the county as well as

run the three water plants and one wastewater system, but Knight said the contract will be up

for renewal soon, and it will be scrutinized for more possible savings.

WATERFRONT with large enclosed

porch overlooking dock on canal to With-

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Mreatment, Inc.

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Foreclosures for sale In Levy and Citrus counties

Reverse Osmosis

Cute block home in good condition just $40K

Diamond Investments, Inc.

352-447-4442

Bacterial Testing & Water Sterilization

Darryl A. Diamond

Iron, Sulfur, Tannin, Chlorine

352-257-2597

Licensed Real Estate Broker

& Sediment Removal

Call Shirley at 352 400-0301

Real Estate Investment Consultant

Serving Citrus,

Darryl & Vicki Diamond & Shirley

Marion & Levy

www.diamondhomesandland.com

“The Diamond Team”

Wholesale to the Public since 1986

FINANCE or REFINANCE with

5 Acres of Trees, Shrubs & Flowers

Lisa VanDeBoe

Buy 5 Items

We Install

Broker/Owner

& Get 1

FENCING,

Angela “Bunny” Adams

See all the Listings in Citrus County on Our Website:

Vinyl &

FREE!

Phone: (352) 220-8828

Aluminum

www.plantationrealtyinc.com

PHONE

352-422-7925

Fax: (352) 337-0723

352-422-1244

State License

email: lisavandeboe@yahoo.com

Office E-Mail: aadams@apexlending.com

Call for Directions

#04723005

Home E-Mail: bunnyadams@comcast.net

Business Property in Historic District - Duplex with

9775 W. Seven Rivers Farm St. • Crystal River

Licensed Mortgage Broker

ID LI00000703883

Lease Option, 638 Citrus Ave., Crystal River, $199,000